Available for new opportunities

Kerry W Powell

Senior Software Engineer

15+ years crafting fast, accessible, scalable web experiences. Specializing in React, TypeScript, and front-end architecture. With a deep commitment to performance and inclusive design.

engineer.ts
// Senior Software Engineer   interface KerryPowell {   experience: '15+ years';   focus: 'Front-End';   stack: [     'React', 'TypeScript',     'Node.js', 'AWS'   ];   a11y: 'WCAG AAA'; }   const engineer = build(   'exceptional products',   'strong teams' );
15+
Years of experience
WCAG AAA
Accessibility standard
1000+ / year
Contributions shipped
Stability
High-traffic platforms

Building the web
with purpose

I'm a seasoned Senior Software Engineer with a decade of experience turning complex requirements into pixel perfect, performant front-end solutions. My work spans high-traffic government platforms, global religious organizations, and enterprise SaaS. Always with an eye on what users actually experience.

I believe great engineering is about more than working code. It's about accessible interfaces, maintainable architecture, and teams that are set up to succeed. I've mentored engineers, driven technical direction, and translated design vision into production-ready systems.

Performance
PWAs, lazy loading, serverless — optimized for real-world conditions.
Accessibility
WCAG AAA certified implementations, screen-reader-first development.
Architecture
Component-based systems, design tokens, scalable at any team size.
Leadership
Mentoring engineers, driving technical direction, cross-team collaboration.

The full stack

Core Languages
TypeScript JavaScript HTML5 CSS3 Sass
Frameworks & Libraries
React Next.js Node.js Web Components Handlebars
Cloud & Infrastructure
AWS Lambda GitHub Actions PWA Serverless
Testing & Quality
Cypress Mocha Jest WCAG AAA
Design & Systems
USWDS Design Systems SEO Localization Responsive Design
Soft Skills
Engineering Mentorship Technical Direction UX Collaboration Client Engagement

Where I've made an impact

2021 — Present
VA.gov / U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Platform Team
Platform Engineer

Provided operational support and built components for one of the highest-traffic government websites in the U.S. Focused relentlessly on performance, accessibility, and scalability across a wide range of devices and platforms. Led the adaptation of web components to align with the latest United States Web Design System (USWDS), achieving WCAG AAA compliance. Collaborated with design and product teams to create responsive, accessible components.

React TypeScript Web Components USWDS WCAG AAA AWS GitHub Actions Cypress
2017 — 2021
Global Religious Organization
Lead Engineer
Lead Front-End Engineer

Managed large-scale projects and pioneered serverless architecture using AWS Lambda to optimize performance for high-traffic international sites. Spearheaded the migration of legacy Handlebars codebases to React, dramatically improving maintainability and developer velocity. Implemented Progressive Web Application patterns, improving load times and offline reliability.

React TypeScript AWS Lambda PWA Node.js SEO Localization Performance
2014 — 2017
Web Agency
Front-End Engineer
Front-End Engineer

Worked closely with clients including Western Governors University and Graduation Alliance to build user-centric web solutions. Collaborated with design teams to establish scalable web design systems, ensuring consistency across platforms. Engaged directly with clients to align technical deliverables with business goals and user experience standards.

JavaScript HTML/CSS Design Systems Client Work Sass

Areas of deep expertise

1
React & Component Architecture

Building reusable, composable UI systems with React and TypeScript from design tokens to production-grade component libraries.

2
Accessibility at Scale

WCAG AAA implementations for government and global platforms. Making the web usable for everyone, by design, not as an afterthought.

3
Performance Engineering

Serverless, PWAs, lazy loading, and bundle optimization. Ensuring fast, reliable experiences for millions of users on any device.

4
Design System Leadership

Establishing and evolving design systems that scale across teams. Aligning engineering and design for consistent, maintainable products.

5
Engineering Mentorship

Guiding junior and mid-level engineers through code reviews, architecture decisions, and career growth conversations.

6
Legacy Modernization

Proven track record migrating legacy systems to modern stacks. Reducing tech debt while keeping products live and teams productive.

Let's work
together

Open to senior engineering roles, technical leadership, and consulting engagements. I'm especially interested in products that prioritize accessibility, performance, and craft.